Written as part of the purpos/ed series and published in the TES in April 2011:
I think the purpose of education is to teach children how to fail.
To drive them to failure and then see what happens.
“If you’re not failing every now and again, it’s a sure sign that you’re not trying anything very innovative.” – Woody Allen
We know that we’re entering a new economic reality that is more challenging and less certain.
We know that Moore’s Law and “digital Taylorism” present a credible threat to the employment prospects of our students.
And we know that students need to be more imaginative and more creative if they are to overcome these hurdles.
“It takes sixty-five thousand errors before you are qualified to make a rocket.” – Werhner von Braun
We know that people who have it all just aren’t happy.
We know that those with nothing to lose have everything to gain.
And we know that when you’re behind in the race, and the odds are stacked against you, you dig deeper and you reach higher.
“Success is going from failure to failure without losing your enthusiasm.” – Winston Churchill
We know that the tired, the poor, the huddled masses fight to breathe free.
We know that those with their backs to the wall, fight harder.
And yet. And yet.
We’re too nice to children. We used not to be. Not to Tom Brown. Not to Oliver Twist.
Education has become progressively gentler – in a manner that has not always been helpful.
Children have moved from fear, to security, to dependency; one step too far…
Too dependent on adults; on teachers; on parents; on technology; on frameworks; on specifications…
So I think we need to find new ways for children to fail.
We need to step back; let go a little; be less helpful.
Of course, our students won’t always like this approach. But I suspect that they’ll learn a lot more.
And, with a bit of luck, they’ll learn how to succeed.
“Ever tried? Ever failed? No matter. Try again. Fail again. Fail better.” – Samuel Becket
PS: See also: Fail faster – by Aza Raskin
Comments
18 responses
Wow! Interesting stuff, Ian. I *think* what you’re saying chimes with Dan Meyer’s mantra of “less helpful” but he explicitly mentions the need to scaffold learning so children can learn from such failure.
Thanks for the contribution! 🙂
Wow! Interesting stuff, Ian. I *think* what you’re saying chimes with Dan Meyer’s mantra of “less helpful” but he explicitly mentions the need to scaffold learning so children can learn from such failure.
Thanks for the contribution! 🙂
I’ve always liked that quote and I’ve just written it up on my board for tomorrow morning. And I may have to have it tattooed somewhere on my body. 🙂
The difficulty here – as much as I like and agree with the attitude – is that we cannot let our students fail. It’s seen as a failure in and by us, the teachers. This feels like a particular issue with exam classes, made worse by modular courses which give so many chances for the students like they haven’t failed yet so they don’t need to change. At the same time they know that there’s always another exam so they don’t get the chance to pause, reflect or relax.
Hmm. Are we failing our students by making sure they always succeed? Not, I suspect, a popular idea with heads of department or members of management teams. Thanks for sharing.
I’ve always liked that quote and I’ve just written it up on my board for tomorrow morning. And I may have to have it tattooed somewhere on my body. 🙂
The difficulty here – as much as I like and agree with the attitude – is that we cannot let our students fail. It’s seen as a failure in and by us, the teachers. This feels like a particular issue with exam classes, made worse by modular courses which give so many chances for the students like they haven’t failed yet so they don’t need to change. At the same time they know that there’s always another exam so they don’t get the chance to pause, reflect or relax.
Hmm. Are we failing our students by making sure they always succeed? Not, I suspect, a popular idea with heads of department or members of management teams. Thanks for sharing.
I think the problem with exams/modules/retakes is that we’ve authorised “failure without consequence”. Which encourages low ambition.
I think the problem with exams/modules/retakes is that we’ve authorised “failure without consequence”. Which encourages low ambition.
Hi Ian
I can see why you propose this approach and, of course, we all need to learn by failing/questioning and growing.
however I do think this approach suits some children/people more than others – so for example some autistic children/people deal with criticism/failure quite badly which can set them back for months or even years. Whilst it may spur some onwards and upwards it may cause deep distress for others.
So yes we all have to experience failure and learn from it but I feel that setting people up to fail as a policy or educational approach is flawed. At certain times in our lives we can deal with failure better than others depending on a wide range of personal factors. As educators helping people deal with failure in a positive way is, I think vital.
I have used your post to discuss this with my 14 year old son who is on the autistic spectrum – so thanks for that because I have a constant battle to help him deal with the smallest failing which can be seen as a major setback affecting his learning and his self esteem. I never set him up to fail but always support him through those that he naturally encounters.
Hi Ian
I can see why you propose this approach and, of course, we all need to learn by failing/questioning and growing.
however I do think this approach suits some children/people more than others – so for example some autistic children/people deal with criticism/failure quite badly which can set them back for months or even years. Whilst it may spur some onwards and upwards it may cause deep distress for others.
So yes we all have to experience failure and learn from it but I feel that setting people up to fail as a policy or educational approach is flawed. At certain times in our lives we can deal with failure better than others depending on a wide range of personal factors. As educators helping people deal with failure in a positive way is, I think vital.
I have used your post to discuss this with my 14 year old son who is on the autistic spectrum – so thanks for that because I have a constant battle to help him deal with the smallest failing which can be seen as a major setback affecting his learning and his self esteem. I never set him up to fail but always support him through those that he naturally encounters.
Hi, Came across this via Twitter. The approach you suggest has worked well with my son who has been home educated to the age of 18. More about him here http://tpn.lowtech.org/ The problem as I understand it is where children reason “if I can’t do this it must mean I’m stupid”
Hi, Came across this via Twitter. The approach you suggest has worked well with my son who has been home educated to the age of 18. More about him here http://tpn.lowtech.org/ The problem as I understand it is where children reason “if I can’t do this it must mean I’m stupid”
I really enjoyed reading this and I like its provocative tone. I wonder if we should be concerned less with degrees of failure and more with quantities of risk?
I really enjoyed reading this and I like its provocative tone. I wonder if we should be concerned less with degrees of failure and more with quantities of risk?
so for example some autistic children/people deal with criticism/failure quite badly which can set them back for months or even years. Whilst it may http://www.conversefr.com/ spur some onwards and upwards it may cause deep distress for others.
so for example some autistic children/people deal with criticism/failure quite badly which can set them back for months or even years. Whilst it may http://www.conversefr.com/ spur some onwards and upwards it may cause deep distress for others.
THANK YOU FOR SHARING,IT IS COOL POST AND NICE SITE!!
THANK YOU FOR SHARING,IT IS COOL POST AND NICE SITE!!
I absolutely love the sign on the picture, I mean the quote by Samuel Becket, so inspiring!
I absolutely love the sign on the picture, I mean the quote by Samuel Becket, so inspiring!